Reviews

Savvy Chic: The Art of More for Less by Anna Johnson

philippakmoore's review against another edition

5.0

I got Three Black Skirts for Christmas the year it came out, I was 17. It has kind of been my bible ever since. Savvy Chic is a gorgeous follow up to TBS, kind of picking up with Anna where she left off. It's not just a "how to" guide to live a luxurious life for less, but part memoir as well. She writes beautifully about her first love, a sculptor, and how he retained the milky stench of the hotel kitchen he worked in no matter how many baths he took; about her wedding that she organised once she found out that the date 22nd September 2004 was a lucky one for her starsign (!); and her nomadic and colourful childhood. People who want more of a "how to" didactic kind of book might not love it - it's far less "how to" than TBS. I, however, got caught up in the rich narrative of the author's life, impressed by how she has lived her life so fearlessly and still lives it with hardwon pride and principles, but she is philosophical about the fact that in choosing freedom, artistic or otherwise, other more material things have had to go by the wayside. This book reminded me that there is a huge difference between being wealthy and being rich. Anna Johnson is rich.

If you like Three Black Skirts, I highly recommend it.

gingerjane's review against another edition

4.0

Food for thought! In the course of reading this book (over the weekend, then) I have purged my wardrobe and reorganised my room. I plan to refer back to this book pretty much indefinitely...

cimorene1558's review against another edition

4.0

I like this a lot, it's fun and interesting, but it's still a little heavy on the assumption that everyone has more money generally than I've ever had (despite the author's regularly discussing how broke she often is--which is about how broke I always am). So, it's not really a very helpful guide for me, but it sure is fun!

impreader's review against another edition

3.0

Useful to some extent, and curious.

kerrynicole72's review against another edition

2.0

I'm not really sure who the audience is for this book, but it wasn't me.

nicole_p's review against another edition

5.0

Maybe really a 4.5, but I am seriously enjoying this book! As someone with a super-dee-duper tight budget myself right now, her ideas are a fresh and realistic take on some of the things you have to do and CAN do to stretch a dollar. I am a resourceful, creative person, but I love that someone else is coming up with some terrific ideas too, to still live abundantly when discretionary income is scarce.

May 1, 2014 - All done! Excellent. Due at the library, but will be buying a copy for myself.

P.S. Made the Tuscan Fritatta for dinner tonight. Everyone LOVED it ~ delicious!